Mixing and discharging apparatus



Junej17, 1930. H. S. BE ERS uxxme A-ND niscrumeme APPARATUS Filed Oct. 24, 1929 2 Shegts-Sheet 1 June 1 7, 1930.

MIXING AND DISCHARGING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 24, 1929 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 H. SLIBEERSI v 1,764,49

m anwhile-11. 1930 v UNITE-D" STA Esl OFFICE Jamar-s. runs, or WESTIOBT,'; comincrrcor.#Assnmoamo rim runno-mxnn conronanon, or. new roan; n, -v. acom oaarron or nnw'xonx irrxme AND mscnneme nrrana'rus I Application med October 24,1929. sci-a1 no. 401,697.

My invention relates to mixing apparatus includin means for conveniently and eifi cientlyischarging the completed mixture,

' and especially relatively thick or viscous-materials, from themixing tank.

To thisend, the invention structure comprises-a tank, mixing apparatus therein in cluding a rotor, a sump or discharge chamber adJacent the tank bottom, and means or ar-.- 1o rangements by which the rotor may be lowi eredinto-the discharge chamber and,oper

ated therein to draw the completed mixture ent type, intended for general uses, has not! included any definite or adequate means for. discharging from the ,tank after mixing, relfrom the tank and discharge it to ajdesired point. Y

.Heretofore, mixing apparatus of the press atively thick,'semi-liquid or viscous mate- Q rials, Iof'which mayonnaise dressing is one examplefland annoyance delay and expense. have-been involved in removal of such materials in order to clear the tank for reception' of afresh charge. The materials .ofthe 5 class referred to may be described as rela- A .tively non-flowing or. viscous materials, as; contrasted with relativelyliquid or readilyflowing materials which will run out of the tank through any simple bottom discharge opening. v a

In cases where mlxers of special types, or

I intended for; mixing materials of particular character, have been provided with discharging means, such means has been independent of or additional to the mixing apparatus proper, or the rotorvor impeller thereof, such discharge means consisting for example of a screw or bladed propeller permanently located in a discharge conduit. My; invention. dispenses with any'such distinct or addi I tional discharge apparatus, and provides for so nss'will understand that many variations I may be made without departingfrom the principles d sclosed and I contemplate the employment of any structures that are properl within the scopeof the appended claims.

ig. 1 is a vertical section of apparatus em- .bodying the invention in one form.

Fig.- 2 is a similar section ofrthe, lower "part-of the'app'aratus, in discharging condition. p v

m Fig. 3vis a section at,3-'-3,Fi .2.

. Fig. 4 is a' section at 4-4, i The tank 1 has a bottom 2 usuzfi .1. lyindished or part-spherical form.. At a suitable loca-- tion, usuall near the tank bottom, is mixing apparatus including a rotor-or impeller 3.

In preferred embodiments, this impeller is of t e turbo type, includin blades 4, and in such cases, a stationary de ector 5 .is usuall provided, surrounding the impeller. Pre era-bly, also, as shown, the impeller is of duplex type, including curved,'annular top and bottom plates 6 connected by the blades 4,-which also connect the plates' to a hub 7 fixed on the lower. end of a shaft 8; In mixing, the impeller is usually located approximately as shown in Fig. 1,- substantially above the tank bottom, and the circulated material enters the impeller through the central openings. of the .top and bottom plates, in downward and upward directions, and is discharged in generally tangential directions between the plates, by the action of blades 4, the circulation of the material in vertical planes being sufiiciently explained by arrows in Fig; 1. The deflector is designed to receive the tangentially discharged material axial planes, and for this purpose includes vertical, curved, approximately tangential blades 9, and also-may include intermediate blades or plates lOcurved and arranged at and cause it to move in generally radial or I alternately upward and downward angles in relation to the horizontal planefto cause portions of the material to move respectively upward and downward. Except for modifications orarrangements providing for eflic'ie'nt discharge of material from the tank,

the impeller and deflector constitute a duplex turbo mixer of known type,'as sufliciently ceding description. 1

The impeller for present pur oses 1s arunderstood by skilled persons from the preranged for vertical movement. he shaft 8 is connected to asleeve 12. A shaft 13 within the sleeve is connected to it by splines 14 so that the sleeve and shaft 8 are driven by shaft 13 and may move vertically in relation to it. Shaft 13 runs in a bearing 15 in a 'plate 16 at the top of the tank, and is driven by any suitable driving mechanism such as an electric motor, or gearing in a case 17. The particular driving apparatus or. arrangement is not a part of the invention. For the vertical positioning of the impeller, a

rack bar 20 is connected to sleeve 12 by a thrust bearing 21. The rack bar*slides in a guide 22 on a frame member 23 and'is 'engaged by a pinion 24 on a shaft 25 supported in bearings 26 and 27. A hand wheel 30 is slidably splined on the outer end of the shaft. The hub of the hand wheel has clutch jaws 33 cooperating with complemental jaws 34 on one end of the bearing 27, and is urged to jaw-engaging position by a spring 35 on the shaft. To vertically position the impeller, the hand wheel is retracted from the position of Fig. 4, thus disengaging the clutch jaws. The wheel is then revolved to raise or lower the impeller to desired'position, and

the wheel is thenallowed to return to the position of Fig.4, with .the clutch jaws in engagement, whereupon the impeller is retained in the desired position.

The deflector may be supported in the tank, in such position that it is located about the mpeller, when the latter isin normal mixing posi tion as shown in Fig. 1, by any suitable means, such as vertical struts 40 connected to the topof the tank and to a frame or spider 41, which is connected to 'the deflector. This spider has at its center a hub formation 42 providing a bearing for shaft 8 adjacent the impeller. The deflector maybe additionally supported from or braced against the tank bottom, as by vertical struts or legs 44.

\ At or adjacent the tank bottom is a sump or discharge chamber to cooperate with the impeller when the latter is in discharging position to withdraw the completed mixture from the tank. Specifically, this discharge chamber in a desired form, as shown, is an mvolute casing 50 corresponding generally.

to the form of the casing of an mvolute exhaust apparatus or turbo pump, including a discharge passage or neck 51 through which the material is discharged to anydesired point. The involute casing is arranged horizontally, and its upper and lower sides or plates are connected to aligned upper and lower tubular extensions 53 and 54 respec-,

tively. Thetubular extension or connecting member 53 may be short, and is connected at an opening of the same diameter in the tank .the impeller also provides, when desired, for

bottom. The lower tubular extension '54 is longer, and dimensioned to receive a piston 56, which slides within the tubes 53 and 54. The piston may be vertically moved and positioned in various ways. As shown, it is carr 1ed by a screw 58 which slides through a hole in a supporting block 59 and is pre-' vented from rotating by a key or spline 60. A hand wheel 61 rests on block 59 and has threaded engagement with the screw to ad just the piston in an obvious way. The piston may have an suitable packing means cooperating with tlie tubes 53 and 541m prevent leakage of material. Such cliing is sufficiently represented herein y the annular channels 65 in the cylindrical surface of the p ston. L v a The material to be mixed may be supplied to the tank in any suitable way as through a pipe leading to a port 71 in the tankwa During mixing, the parts are arranged as shown in Fig. 1; that is, piston 56 is elevated so that its upper surface is at the level of the tank bottom and thus forms a closure preventing escape of material. The impeller is locatedv concentrically with the deflector and is rotated to circulate and mix the materials as sufliciently explained above. When mixing is completed, the piston is lowered to the position of Fig. 2, that is, to the lower portion of the" lower tubular extension 54 of the involute casing. The impeller is then lowered to the position also shown-in Fig. 2, that is,

so thatthe annular discharge opening of the impeller is aligned with the involute casing. The impeller is then rotated at suitable speed and draws the material by powerful suction from the tank, through tube 53 and into the impeller, and discharges the material into and from the casing, the action being that of a rotary turbo-exhauster or pump. The mixed material, even when of semi-fluid, stifi' or viscous character is thus quickly and-effectively removed from the tank and discharged to any desired point for further handling; the impeller and piston are returned to mixing position, Fig. 1; a new charge is supplied, and the operations are repeated indefinitely.

In its lower position, the piston of course acts as a seal for the lower portion of the involute casing.

The described means for vertically movin adjustment of the impeller in relation to the deflector, thus affording means for varying or controlling the circulation of material during mixing. 1

I claim:

1. Mixing and discharging apparatus comprising a tank having a discharge chamber, a rotary material circulato'r in the tank, and means for positioning the circulator in the i30 tank for mixing and in the discharge chamher for discha'rgin material from the tank. 2. Mixing and discharging apparatus comprising a tank having a bottom discharge chamber, a rotary material circulator in .the tank, and means for positioning the circulator in the tank for mixin' and in the .dis-

charge chamber for disc arging material from the tank.

3. Mixing and discharging apparatus comprising a tank havin a discharge chamber,

J means for positioning the circulator in the tank for mixing and in the discharge cham-.'

her for discharging material from the tank, and a stationary deflector within the tank cooperating with the circulator when in mixing position.

5. Mixing and discharging apparatus comprising a tank having a discharge chamber, 'a rotary impeller in the tank, and means for alternatively positioning the impeller in the tank'for mixing and in the discharge chamber for discharging mixed material, and a stationary deflector within the tank cooperating with the impeller when in mixing position.

- 6. Mixing and discharging apparatus comprising a tank having a discharge chamber, a rotary material circulator in the tank, and means for positioning the circulator 1n the tank for mixing and in the discharge chamber a for discharging material from the tank, and a closure member movable to close the tank bottom during mixing.

7. Mixing and discharging apparatus com-' prising a tank having" a discharge chamber, a rotary material circulator in the tank, and means forpositioning the circulator in the tank for mixing and in the discharge chamber for discharging material from the tank,

and a closure member movable to close the tank bottom during-mixing, and to form a seal for the discharge chamber during discharging.

" 8. Mixing and discharging apparatus comprising a tank having a discharge chamber, a rotary material circulator in the tank, and means for positioning. thecirculator in the tank for mixing and in the discharge chamber for discharging material from the tank, and a closure member movable to close the tank bottom during mixing, and to form a seal for the discharge chamber during discharging, and in discharging position, admitting the location otthe circulator in cooperative relation to the discharge chamber.

9. Mixing and discharging apparatus comprising a tank having a discharge chamber,

a rotary impeller in the tank, and means for alternatively positioning'the impeller in the tank for mixing and in the discharge cham-' ber for discharging mixed material, a'nda closure. member movable to close the tankbottomduring mixing and to form a seal for thedischarge chamber during discharg- 7 mg. 4

10. Mixing and: discharging apparatus comprising a tank, a rotary turbo impeller therein, an involute discharge casing adjacent the tank bottom and arranged to receive the impeller and means for positioning the impeller within the tank for-mixing and in the involute casing for discharging material.

11. Mixing and discharging apparatus comprising atank, a rotary turbo impeller therein, an involute discharge casing adjacent the tank bottom and arranged to receive the impeller, and means for positioning the impeller within the tank for mixing and in the involute casing for discharging material, and a closure member movable to close the tank bottom during mixing and to closethe lower portion of the involute casing during discharging. v I

12. Mixing and discharging apparatus comprising a tank, arotary turbo impeller therein, an involute discharge casing adjacent the tank'bottom and arranged to receive the impeller, and means for positioning the impeller within the tank for mixing and in the involute casing for discharging material,

the involute casing being connected to the tank bottomby a tubular formation and also having a lower tubular extension of the same diameter, and a piston movable within the tubular formations to close the tank bottom during mixing, and to accommodate the im peller and close the lower portion of the easing during discharging.

13. Mixing and 1 discharging apparatus comprising a tank, a rotary turbo impeller therein, 'an involute discharge casing adjacent the tank bottom and arranged to receive the impeller, and means for positioning the impeller within the tank for mixing and in the involute casing for discharging material, and a stationary deflector within the tank about the impeller when the latter is in mixing position.

14. Mixing and discharging apparatus comprising a tank, a rotary turbo impeller therein, aninvolute discharge casing adjacent the tank bottom and arranged to receive the impeller, and means for positioning the impeller within'th e tank for mixing and in the involute casing for discharging material, anda closure member movable to close the tank bottom during mixing and to 'close the lower portion of the involute casing during discharging, and a stationary deflector within the tank about the impeller when the latter is in mixing position.

15. Mixing and discharging apparatus comprising a tank, a discharge chamber, a rotary impeller, the dischar e chamber being adapted to receive the impeller, driving means, and a driving connection to the im- 5 peller arranged to permit location of the impeller within the tank for mixing and in the dlischarging chamber for'discharging materia 16. Mixing and discharging apparatus comprising'a tank, a discharge chamber, a

rotary impeller, the discharge chamber being adapted to receive the impeller, driving means, and a driving connection to the impeller arranged to permit location of the impeller within the tank for mixing and in the discharging chamber for discharging material, and meansfor raising and lowering the impeller and securing it in mixing or discharging position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

- Y HENRY S. BEERS. 

